How Ex-Metalheads Celebrate

Last week you woke up one morning and found yourself a year older. First thing you did was to go fetch bread from the bakery, because that was your job each morning. You came home and your birthday presents were on the breakfast table, with your son already weeping because he wanted to open the box of chocolates. You also got socks, coffee beans and a bottle of wine (your wife's austerity campaign continues - she made you return the Wii that you gave her for Christmas and clearly there was no reprieve).

You finally managed to hustle the boy off to kindergarten and came back to get some work done. Your wife did allow for lunch at a nice restaurant in town - one which you used to frequent but was now off limit until she felt ready to leave both kids at home with the babysitter. Before you got to the restaurant you stopped to look at lighting - that's where your money will go.


The meal was delicious. Thankfully the baby slept and only woke when it was time to ask for the check. You didn't loiter and even said no to dessert because it was a beautiful sunny day and with the rare snowfall earlier in the week the one thing you wanted to do with the rest of your day was to pick up your son early to take him sledding. This you did until twilight, to his delight. Afterwards you and the family went home and as usual your wife busied herself with getting the baby settled for the night, leaving you to wrestle with the older one through the over-familiar nightly routine of getting him to bed.

Later you and she shared some companionable moments before you both said goodnight...Happy Birthday Jochen!